The Young and The Restless: The Hottest Headlines of 2025!
2025 on Young and Restless was filled with all the usual manner of dramatic happenings, from kidnappings and breakups to returns from the dead and corporate shenanigans. Off camera, fans of the show had just as much if not more twists and turns to keep track of, including firings, hirings, and major life events like pregnancy and marriage among stars of the show. Here’s a look back at the Y&R year’s hottest headlines.
Ins and Outs
In January, Colleen Zenk was killed off the show as loony Jordan Howard; ditto Ray Wise as Ian Ward, though the door was left open for his return when “dead” Ian opened his eyes in the ambulance whisking away his “corpse.” Sharon managed to vanquish her visions of Cameron Kirsten, meaning that Linden Ashby was out once again as the late villain. Meanwhile, Nathan Owens made his debut as Holden (who originally was posing as Damian) and Jermaine Rivers hit the scene as the real Damian. In March, the soap world was rocked by the news that Billy Flynn — who had spent 10 years playing Chad DiMera on Days of Our Lives — was trading his Salem home to assume a mystery role on Y&R. That role, of course, turned out to be a recast Cane Ashby, who had originally been played by Daniel Goddard, albeit a version of Cane who had reinvented himself as Aristotle Dumas. He debuted in June.
April saw the departure of Christopher Cousins as Martin, the evildoer who had been posing as his dead twin Alan’s brother, and Allison Lanier announced that she was exiting after a three-year run as Summer. “This Friday, May 2nd, will be my last episode on Y&R!” she posted on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ve loved the journey and learned so much but it’s time to grow in a different direction… very grateful for all of the Y&R fans who have supported me <3.” The following month, Daytime Emmy-winner Mishael Morgan kicked off a visit to the show as Amanda, her first since 2024, and Vincent Stalba was introduced as Dumas’ right-hand man, Carter. Also in May, Michael Swan, known to soap fans for his work as Duncan McKechnie on As the World Turns and Adam Alexander on Bold and Beautiful, popped up briefly as a mystery man tied to the storyline of the secret Mariah is harboring.
In June, it was revealed that Conner Floyd would be exiting the show as Chance in order to take on the role of DAYS’s Cane, which had been vacated by Billy Flynn (he won’t debut until next year because of how far in advance the show tapes). Flynn gave the move his seal of approval on Instagram, writing, “Congrats @connergfloyd! Chad is in great hands. You’re gonna crush it man.”
Early in July, the character of Cole Howard passed away from Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, bringing an end to the comeback of J. Eddie Peck, which kicked off in 2023. The actor told Soap Opera Digest that he was pleased to get an on-screen death, explaining that “in a weird way, I enjoyed doing the scenes. I enjoyed the work,” but admitted, “Emotionally, it was hard for me. Even when we were doing the rehearsals, it was very hard for me, emotionally, to keep it together.”
Peck wasn’t the only star to exit that month: Jermaine Rivers’s Damian was killed in Nice, and shortly thereafter, Conner Floyd’s Chance died, too, followed by the men’s killer, Vincent Stalba’s Carter. July also hosted a surprise visit by the late Tristan Rogers, who reprised the role of Cane’s father, Colin Atkinson, for a one-day stint prior to his passing.
September started off with a bang via a rash of high-profile hirings. First, the news broke that Daytime Emmy-winner Tamara Braun, who earlier in the year had ended her run as Ava Vitali on DAYS, would be coming aboard in a new role, Sienna Bacall. Shortly thereafter came the announcement that another Daytime Emmy-winner, Roger Howarth, was also heading to Genoa City, though the show wouldn’t say who he was playing. The actor, known for his roles on One Life to Live (ex-Todd), ATWT (ex-Paul) and GH (where he played Todd, Franco and Austin), hadn’t been on a soap in two years. Then Y&R revealed that it had recast the role of Noah Newman with Lucas Adams, best known for playing Braun’s on-screen son, Tripp Johnson, on DAYS. Finally, another daytime alum was tapped for a new role, with Matt Cohen (GH’s ex-Griffin) set to play Detective Burrow. All four stars debuted in October, whereupon it was revealed that Howarth’s role was that of infamous villain Matt Clark, back from the dead and going by a new name, Mitch Bacall.
Ray Wise returned as Ian in October, but only as a figment of Mariah’s imagination for one episode (though he was poised to return again on January 2, 2026), while Catherine Kresge began playing Detective Annie Stewart in November. Also popping in for visits that month were Tricia Cast and Patty Weaver. They reprised the roles of Nina Webster and Gina Roma, respectively, for the wedding of Danny (Gina’s brother) to Christine (Nina’s BFF).
In Memoriam
James Houghton, who was an original cast member of the show in the role of Greg Foster, debuting in 1974, died at the age of 75 on August 27, 2024 of peritoneal mesothelioma, but his wife didn’t confirm his passing until this year. Houghton was also a writer for Y&R, earning four Daytime Emmys for his work…. In March, the show’s first Mari Jo Mason, Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, died by suicide at the age of 62. She and former Y&R star David Hasselhoff (ex-Snapper Foster) were married from 1989 to 2006…. On June 4, Pamela Peters Solow, who originated the role of Peggy Brooks on in 1973, passed away at the age of 75…. Tristan Rogers, who began playing Colin in 2010, passed away from lung cancer on August 15, at the age of 79…. December 14th brought more sad news that Anthony Geary, best known as GH’s Luke, had passed away at the age of 78. The actor played ne’er-do-well George Curtis in Y&R’s debut year, 1973.
Alumni Report
Chris McKenna (ex-Mark Harding) joined General Hospital in February as WSB chief Jack Brennan…. From April to November, Daniel Goddard played the role of shady (and doomed!) professor Henry Dalton…. In May, Rory Gibson (ex-Noah) made his GH debut in the recast role of Michael Corinthos…. Michael Roark, who played Y&R’s Travis Crawford (a short-lived love interest for Victoria), joined DAYS in November as Jeremy Horton…. In December, Greg Vaughan (ex-Diego) made his Beyond the Gates debut as Kial Rollins, while it was revealed that Jordi Vilasuso (ex-Rey) would be joining BTG in 2026 in an undisclosed role.
Real-Life Status
The devastating wildfires in Southern California in January affected several stars of the show, with both Eric Braeden (Victor) and Amelia Heinle (Victoria) tragically losing their homes…. Christel Khalil (Lily) is pregnant with her third child, who will join sons Michael, 15, and Remy, who was born in 2024…. At the 2025 Daytime Emmys in October, Susan Walters took home her first trophy, winning Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work as Diane…. Camryn Grimes (Mariah, Y&R) married Brock Powell in New Orleans on November 8. They began dating in 2020 and share a son, Bridger, 1…. Lucas Adams is set to become a first-time dad; he and wife Shelby Wulfert announced her pregnancy in November.
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